Home from Sochi: Taylor Chace shares Paralympics gold medal story

Tuesday

HAMPTON — Tuesday was a homecoming of sorts for Taylor Chace, who recently returned from Russia 686 grams heavier thanks to the newest addition to his already-crowded trophy case.

HAMPTON — Tuesday was a homecoming of sorts for Taylor Chace, who recently returned from Russia 686 grams heavier thanks to the newest addition to his already-crowded trophy case.

Chace helped lead the U.S. Paralympic sled hockey team to its second straight Paralympic gold medal at the Sochi Games earlier this month. The feat was unprecedented in sled hockey history, which Chace said made his newest medal even sweeter.

“Russia is probably my favorite (medal),” said Chace, 27, a Hampton Falls native and three-time Paralympic medalist who has won a variety of top honors in international competition over his career, including the honor of being named the most outstanding defenseman when the United States won gold four years ago in Vancouver. “This one is really special.”

The stalwart defenseman was the special guest speaker at Tuesday's Hampton Rotary Club meeting and breakfast at The Old Salt. The appearance was Chace's first public speech in the United States since his team defeated Russia 1-0 in the final on March 15.

That victory was “such an adrenaline rush” for Chace, who said he's now “getting use to” being back to work with the University of New Hampshire's Northeast Passage. Chace heavily credits Northeast Passage, along with the community, his friends and family, for helping him through his recovery from an incomplete spinal cord injury while playing hockey with the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs as a 16-year-old in 2002.

Chace said it would be difficult to think of where he'd be without support from his family and the community, as well as the support of Northeast Passage, which he said has helped him feel like an able-bodied hockey player and given him the chance to give back to other athletes.

“I just want to thank everyone who has supported me on the Seacoast and in the state of New Hampshire,” said Chace, who won bronze with the U.S. in the 2006 Paralympic Games, as well as gold, silver and bronze World Championship medals in non-Paralympics years. “It's been an honor to represent the state.”

In addition to the historic nature of the second-straight gold medal, the Sochi Games could also end up being a chance for the U.S. players to be a part of a different type of “history,” according to Chace.

Chace said being in Russia during a period of political unrest was a “very unique experience” he'll always remember, and he said the competition's volunteers helped the team feel safe despite a level of oppression Chace said is “really sad.”

“When we were over there, it was pretty distracting, but you didn't let it get to you,” said Chace. “(Russian President Vladimir) Putin is on the hot seat right now. ... He's on a power trip right now. They're all paranoid over there in Russia right now. They think someone is going to take over Russia, but we really were safe.”

The 2010 Paralympics Athlete of the Year award winner said he doesn't yet know whether he'll attempt to make the 2016 Paralympic squad, although he said “it would be amazing” to get a chance to be part of gold medal three-peat.

In the meantime, Chace said, he'll continue to work with athletes at Northeast Passage as well as work with engineers to develop technological improvements to sled hockey equipment as part of an effort to improve the sport and make it easier for the athletes and disabled veterans expanding its popularity.

“The sleds are pretty basic,” said Chace. “The technology has a long way to go. That's part of my goal. Hopefully the sport will continue to expand.”

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